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I Almost Had You	By : Hideki LaShae Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 8336 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-I Almost Had You
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 4
- 5
- 6
Disclaimer: All Yu-Gi-Oh! characters and references belong to their respective owners. The song lyrics from Come a Little Bit Closer belong to Jay and the Americans and Welcome To My Life belong to Simple Plan and the companies that recorded them and were used in this story with the best of intentions. The song “Witch Doctor” as performed by David Seville and the Chipmunks belongs to the artists and the company that recorded it. The song I Can’t Fight This Feeling belongs to Chicago and the company that recorded it and was used in this story with the best of intentions. Story elements © Hideki LaShae. No money was gained in the writing of this story.

I Almost Had You
By
Hideki LaShae

Chapter Five
Tonight I’m Finding it Hard to be Your Man

- - 3000 years ago - -

Seth saw the fear in Jou’s honey-brown eyes, and he didn’t proceed any further into the kiss he desperately wished for. “Are you afraid of me, Jou?”

Within an instant, the fear in Jou’s eyes transformed into a gentle defiance. “Why the hell would I be afraid of you?”

“You’re afraid of me because you think I’m going to kiss you,” said Seth still holding Jou comfortably in his arms.

“Why would I be afraid of a kiss? I’ve been kissed before!” exclaimed Jou with a slight blush on his cheeks.

“By a woman perhaps, but never from another man. Am I correct?”

“Well… no. I haven’t, but some of my friends have been kissed by guys and they’ve seemed to enjoy it!” said Jou rapidly.

“So would you like to try it?” asked Seth.

Neither Seth nor Jou noticed Seto walk up the stairs and onto the rooftop balcony, but Seto noticed them, and his eyes widened when he saw the precious blond in the arms of his look-alike.

Jou blushed. “Um… try it?”

“Would you permit me to kiss you?” asked Seth smiling.

“Yes.”

Seth slowly leaned forward the rest of the way and pressed his lips against Jou’s, and his eyelids slid closed.

Jou’s eyes fluttered closed.

Seto narrowed his eyes as he watched the scene unfold. He felt rage and anger burning through him before he even began to realize what caused it to affect him. ‘How dare he touch… kiss what belongs to me!’ He thought possessively, ‘Jou is my puppy! He comes from the same time and country as I. He rightfully belongs to me!’

Jou slowly opened his mouth for Seth’s questioning tongue, and he pulled himself slightly closer to the powerful brunet.

Seth delved his tongue into Jou’s mouth and brought their kiss to a whole new level as he pressed the blond tight up against his body.

Seto watched as Jou ripped his lips away from Seth’s and gasped hurriedly for breath.

Jou rested his forehead against Seth’s temple and panted. His cheeks carried an attractive blush, and he held himself close to Seth for support for his weakened knees.

Seth brushed a strand of Jou’s hair away from his reddened cheeks. He smiled. “So… how was it?”

“Um… wow…” Jou chuckled. “Is that a good enough answer?”

“It is for me.” Seth pulled Jou back into another kiss, though not nearly as long or breathtaking as the first. “Would you have breakfast with me tomorrow morning? Just me and no one else.”

“Breakfast?” asked Jou. His eyes widened.

“Yes. I could come to your room in the morning to get you and take you to a quiet breakfast,” said Seth, “It’s just breakfast. It’s not like I’m asking you to spend the night with me first.”

“Oh, great! Breakfast it is then!” exclaimed Jou happily.

Seto turned and headed back down the stairs.

“For a minute there, I thought you were asking me to sleep with you,” said Jou, “and… I don’t have sex with just anyone. I have to really love them first.”

“I understand that. I just hope you will give me a chance to break into that heart of yours,” said Seth.

“We’ll see…” Jou slowly pulled out of Seth’s arms and looked out over the now darkened city. “We missed the sunset.”

“So we did,” said Seth turning and leaning on the balcony rail.

“I bet it was beautiful,” said Jou.

“It usually is. I could bring you up here tomorrow morning to see the sunrise,” said Seth, “It is just as beautiful as the sunset.”

“I don’t know if I want to wake up that early,” said Jou, “but you know what… let’s do it! Could we have breakfast up here?”

“Anything you wish,” said Seth.

“Well, then. I should go to my room and get some sleep,” said Jou, “I have a busy day tomorrow with getting up to have a sunrise breakfast with you. Then I have to help Mokuto and Shizuru with their studies, so of course I’m going to totally suck with that! Then after lunch, I have to take Shizuru to her private lesson so she can replace Jono as the Priestess of Osiris. And after that, Mokuto and I have some activities planned before dinner. Why can’t Shizuru have her lessons after dinner so I could spend the afternoon with her?”

“I will see if I can arrange for her schedule to be altered,” said Seth.

“You… You could do that?”

“I could.”

“Why would you?”

“Because it would make you happy, wouldn’t it?” replied Seth after a moment’s hesitation.

Jou smiled sadly. He closed his eyes and spoke slowly, forming each word carefully as he released them from his throat. “My sister… Shizuka… She lives with my mother… far away from my father and me… I rarely get to see her… For several years, I never even saw or heard from her except in my dreams. Then just a few months ago, I won enough money to help save her eyesight. She had been slowly losing it. I got to see her again when she went in to have the operation to repair her eyesight.”

“Operation?” asked Seth, “What do you mean?”

“Well… it’s… let’s just say I took her to someone like Namu who healed her eyesight,” said Jou, “only he didn’t use magic or herbs like Namu. He used medicines and science.”

“Science. You will explain that to me later,” said Seth, “but for now, continue on with your telling.” He turned away from the balcony and looked into Jou’s honey colored eyes.

“Right. Since she regained her eyesight,” continued Jou, “I’ve gotten to see her a little more. But once again my mom is refusing to acknowledge I even exist, and she won’t let me see Shiki.”

“That must be hard for you,” said Seth. He sighed. “I wouldn’t know what I would do with myself if I wasn’t allowed to see Mokuto whenever I wanted. I know I don’t see him enough because there are many tasks appointed to me as High Priest, but I tuck him into bed whenever I can, and I have breakfast with him several days a week.”

“Will he be joining us tomorrow then?” asked Jou.

“No. That will be between us, only us.” Seth looked at Jou with growing lust. He reached out for Jou’s shoulders, guided the blond back up against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around Jou once more.

Jou leaned up to place a quick kiss on Seth’s lips. “Thank you.”

“What did I do?” asked Seth.

Jou blushed. “For being so different from Seto.”

“Why do you hate him so?”

“He hates me.”

Seth opened his mouth to speak again, but he couldn’t force any words out once Jou’s tongue forced its way in to play with his own. He moaned into Jou’s kiss.

Jou pulled away again and turned from Seth. “I’m going to bed now. I will see you in the morning, Seth.”

“Sleep well tonight, Jou,” said Seth smiling as the blond started down the stairs.

“And you as well, Seth,” said Jou quietly before disappearing down the staircase.

“Oh, I’m sure that I will have very pleasant dreams indeed,” said Seth reaching down to stroke himself through the fabric he wore. He closed his eyes and relinquished himself to his self-induced pleasure.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Jou woke up to the feeling of a pair of hands lightly caressing his face. He slowly opened his eyes and gazed into a pair of cerulean eyes. He smiled when he recognized the tanned skin belonging to Seth. “Good morning, Seth.”

“You must dress quickly. It took me much longer to wake you than I thought it would. If we do not hurry, we will miss the sunrise,” said Seth.

Jou sat up abruptly and nearly bumped his head against Seth’s. He blushed. “Wait outside. I’ll be out in just a minute.”

Seth nodded and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Jou jumped out of bed and quickly pulled his clothing over his completely nude body. He headed out to Seth. “Come on! Now that I’m awake, I’m hungry!”

Seth chuckled as he guided Jou back up to the roof where a small table had been laid out with various delicious looking foods.

“Well… it looks like you’ve gone to a lot of trouble for this,” said Jou, “You didn’t have to.”

“I suppose not, but I wanted to. This is our first date after all,” said Seth gently pushing Jou to the balcony’s edge and pressing his body up against the blond’s back.

Jou blushed. “A date?”

Seth held Jou gently and rested his chin on Jou’s shoulder. “Watch the way the sunlight hits the desert.”

Jou turned his gaze to the brightly colored horizon, and he smiled. He placed his hands on Seth’s arms to hold them around his body. “You know… for some reason, that thought doesn’t bother me as much now as it would have a few months ago.”

“What is so different between now and then?” whispered Seth, sending tingles of pleasure racing down Jou’s spine.

“A few months ago… I thought I loved Mai… I thought I was strictly a one-woman man. Now, I know that the sex of my partner isn’t as important as the spirit within the body,” said Jou.

“So you thought you were only attracted to women, but now you know that both sexes attract you?”

“Oh, sure, just paraphrase whatever I say and throw it back at me!” exclaimed Jou. He watched the sunlight reflecting gold upon the desert sand. “But that is exactly right!”

“How did you come to this conclusion?” asked Seth stroking Jou’s stomach. The effects of the sunlight upon the world around them meant nothing compared to the beautiful creature within his arms.

“Well… I suppose I did have a little help…”

The rays from the sun passed over the two men standing upon the roof of the Pharaoh’s palace.

Jou closed his eyes.

- - Enter Jou’s Memory - -
“Move out of the way for your master, mutt!”

I turned around just in time to see Kaiba… Seto… brush roughly past me. “Watch it, Moneybags! I’m not a mutt, and you’d never be my master!”

Seto sent a glare at me over his shoulder. “Did you bark something, mutt? I’m afraid I don’t speak dog language, so you’ll have to learn Japanese. Now come on! It’s time for your flea bath!”

“Why you bastard!” I screamed and ran towards Seto.

Seto turned around to face me just as I lunged at him.

I collided against his chest and we fell to the ground, with me lying sprawled out on top of him.

Seto looked at me with wide eyes.

I swallowed hard as I looked into those lovely blue eyes. My heart pounded, and I felt the familiar stirring in my loins.

“Don’t jump up on your master, mutt!” Seto shoved me off him.

I swore for just a moment there that I saw him blush. “You ain’t my master! And quit calling me a fucking mutt! You rich arrogant bastard! I’m not a dog!”

“You are a mutt if I say you are,” said Seto standing and brushing the dirt from his school uniform. “If you don’t learn to behave for your master, I’ll have you fixed.”

“Like hell!”

Seto turned away from me and walked away.

I sat up and watched him go for a few minutes, seeing the firm back and the well-endowed ass gracefully moving away, before the feeling in my loins increased. I stood up and headed back into the school to a bathroom stall where I replayed the fight scene in my mind and ran my hand up and down the erection caused by it.
- - Exit Jou’s Memory - -

“It is a beautiful sunrise, isn’t it?” whispered Seth.

Jou opened his eyes to see the sun completely risen. “Yeah… you don’t see beauty like that back in Domino!”

Seth turned them from the sunrise and guided Jou over to a seat.

Jou sat down at the table and waited for Seth to sit across from him before he placed some of the food onto his plate.

Seth and Jou talked about their studies, a relatively safe topic, while they enjoyed their breakfast together.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Seto waved away the slave who just completed the task of filling his bathing pool.

The slave departed and closed the door behind him.

Seto pushed the thin blanket off his body and rose from his bed. He walked over to the bathing pool and tested the temperature of the water. He scoffed when he found it too hot for his liking. “Oh, well… I know I should do my exercises first anyway.”

A warm breeze blew into the room from the open balcony door as Seto stretched his arms. He didn’t notice when Jou walked out onto the balcony from his own adjacent room, so he didn’t see Jou’s eyes widen or hear his gasp when he looked in to see a very toned brunet standing in the buff.

Seto cleared his mind and ignored everything around him as he stretched his body languidly before starting in on the simple yoga exercises.

“Oh, God… Osiris,” whispered Jou falling to his knees. He stared in shock at the nude body with a familiar feeling rising in him again. His lust grew even stronger as he saw the movements of Seto’s body reveal to him the ample assets between the strong legs. His hand quickly found its way beneath the folds of cloth to his hard erection, and he stroked himself as he watched Seto.

Seto completed his yoga ritual and started in on a different exercise regime, one containing more martial arts performed just as gracefully as the yoga.

Jou continued to stroke himself as he watched Seto. His body heat rose as he saw Seto step into the bathing pool and lift some of the water in his cupped hands to trickle down his chest. He bit his lip to muffle his gasp as his body released in orgasmic pleasure.

Seto lowered himself to sit in the bathing pool.

Jou slipped into his room and quickly shed his clothing before falling into his own, filled bathing pool. “Damn… that was about the hottest thing I’ve ever seen! And from Kaiba Seto, the world’s most eligible bastard… I meant bachelor! Probably the world’s most straightest bastard too if my luck continues on the way it has been! Damn him for being sexy! Smart assed jerk!”

Jou relaxed into the hot water and closed his eyes to receive images of the darker skinned Seth performing the movements he just saw Seto doing. He ducked his head beneath the water to wash the images away from himself so as not to get aroused again. He poked his head out of the water and took a deep breath before grabbing up the herbal soap he requested from Namu. He wet the soap before scrubbing it into his hair.

“Hey, Jou,” said Seto stepping into the threshold of Jou’s room from their balcony.

Jou gasped and dropped his soap. He dove under the water to retrieve it and placed it in a dish along the side of his bathing pool. He kept most of his body beneath the water as he turned to see Seto dressed in the simple Egyptian cotton clothing, but he still blushed intensely at the knowledge that he’s completely naked beneath the water. “Seto! What are you…?”

“I didn’t realize you were bathing. I thought you’d still be asleep,” said Seto turning his eyes away.

“Um… um…”

“I want to have lunch with you and the kids today,” said Seto blushing.

“Yeah… sure!” exclaimed Jou, “We’ll come collect you at the library. We’re dining in the gardens for lunch today!”

“All right. I’ll be expecting you,” said Seto. He looked up as he saw the movement of the blond turning around again and lifting the soap. “And just where exactly did you get soap around here? Don’t tell me you brought it from home!”

“I told Namu how to make it and he made an herbal soap for me,” said Jou, “It’s the type I use at home, but I didn’t bring it with me.”

“You know how to make soap?” asked Seto in shock.

Jou looked over his shoulder at Seto and winked. “I know a lot of things that would surprise you.”

“So I’m beginning to see,” said Seto smiling. He turned and headed back onto the balcony. “Don’t forget our date, puppy!”

Jou nearly choked as the words sunk into his brain, and he ducked beneath the water again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Atemu entered the library and looked around at the pristine shelves, all holding several small bins filled with scrolls.

“What do you think, Atemu?” asked Seto walking towards the Pharaoh.

“Incredible,” said Atemu, “It looks very well. You and the others have done a remarkable job.”

Seto nodded and looked around. “Yes. I am quite proud of all my workers here.”

“I think this deserves a reward,” said Atemu, “How would you like to go out into the city, with an appropriate guard unit of course?”

“A trip out of the palace walls?” asked Seto, “Are you sure that’s safe? One of your most powerful Priests was killed in that city!”

“If you don’t want to go, I won’t force you,” said Atemu.

“What I want is to be able to go into the city without someone trying to kill me because I look like Seth!” exclaimed Seto, “I would like to go out and see a bit more of Egypt than what’s inside these walls. I just don’t want my curiosity to be my death!”

“I know, which is why security would be scaled up, and also Seth would accompany you so that people would not think you two were the same. We would claim you are a foreign diplomat,” said Atemu, “It is only a small lie.”

“Would Jou be coming as well?” asked Seto, “I know he would like to go out into the marketplace.”

“Yes. And I will come as well,” said Atemu, “We will tell no one of the plan to go out and only inform the guards right before we leave. Hiroto will not be pleased about the short notice, but he will understand the reasoning behind it.” He sighed and moved to a seat before gracefully lowering himself into it. “Those cards you and Jou brought with you. You will need to bring them. Hopefully they will not be necessary, but I would rather be prepared.”

Seto nodded. “I wouldn’t think of going out there without them. I feel naked even now, not having a way to carry them with me in this outfit. My duel disk would get into the way with all the work in here, but out in the city, it might attract attention, but we can claim it is foreign jewelry.”

“So… do you want me to privately arrange for the trip?” asked Atemu.

“Yes. I’ll tell Jou about it. It will make him happy,” said Seto.

Atemu smiled. “I’m glad.”

“I do have one concern though,” said Seto.

Atemu raised an eyebrow.

“What do I do now that the library is organized? It won’t take nearly as many people to keep it that way as I had helping me,” said Seto sitting down across from Atemu.

“We’ll think of something,” said Atemu smiling, “Until then, just relax. Read a bit.” He stood up. “I have a country to lead.”

Seto smiled as he watched Atemu leave the library. He stood up and looked around the library. He selected a scroll and sat down to read the ancient hieroglyphics upon it. He didn’t notice Mokuto, Shizuru, and Jou enter the library at midday.

Jou walked up to Seto and set a woven basket down on the table in front of him.

Seto looked up and smiled when he saw Jou standing before him.

“Are you ready for lunch?” asked Jou, “Cause we’re starving!”

“Just give me a moment to put this scroll away and then we can head out,” said Seto. He stood and rolled the scroll up before disappearing down an aisle and returning a moment later without the parchment. He lifted the basket and placed his hand lightly on the small of Jou’s back. “Come on, puppy. Let’s go out to the garden so we can feed you.”

Jou smiled brightly at Seto and led him and the two children out of the library where the guards awaited to escort them all to the garden.

“So how has your day been so far?” asked Seto with a small smile.

“It’s been good. I think I screwed the kids up for life with their studies,” said Jou, “but they’re smart. They’ll survive!”

“Jou isn’t very good as a tutor,” said Shizuru.

“You can say that again!” exclaimed Jou.

“If you could read, you might not be so bad,” said Mokuto.

“Well, excuse me if Egyptian isn’t my native language!” exclaimed Jou, “And where I’m from, we don’t use that counting thing!”

“Are you talking about the abacus, Jou?” asked Seto.

“I think that’s what it is,” said Jou blushing.

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Jou,” said Seto, “It isn’t that easy of a tool to use unless you’ve been using it for awhile. It’s rather confusing the first few times.” He wrapped one arm around Jou.

“Can you use the abacus?” asked Jou looking up at Seto with hopeful eyes.

“I got upset when I couldn’t understand how it worked, and I broke mine,” whispered Seto directly into Jou’s ear.

Jou’s eyes caught Seto’s and held them in a lingering gaze as they walked towards the garden.

“Here we are!” exclaimed Shizuru as they entered a circular area with beautiful flowers surrounding it. She pulled Mokuto to sit down on the still-shaded stone walkway.

Jou blushed as he tore his eyes away from Seto’s, and his hand brushed against the other male’s as he took the basket containing their lunches. “Okay! Who’s ready to eat?”

“I have something to tell you later,” whispered Seto before sitting down on the stonework beside Mokuto.

Jou smiled as he carried the basket to sit two feet directly in front of Seto so he faced everyone. He set the basket in front of him and opened it up. He pulled out some of the fruit and passed it around. Then he set out the rest of the food before digging in himself.

Seto and Mokuto engaged in a politely quiet conversation while Jou talked with Shizuru about her training to become the Priestess of Osiris.

“I’m worried about the Trials,” whispered Shizuru before sticking the last piece of her bread into her mouth, “I have to go through the Trials with Sephiroh before the Priestess of Seth passes away. She must oversee them.”

“Do you know what happens during the Trials of Ptah’s Children?” whispered Jou.

Shizuru shook her head. “I’m not ready. Whatever they are, I know I am not ready! I can’t do it!”

Jou pulled Shizuru into his arms. “You can do this. I know you can. You’re the strongest woman I know.”

Seto’s heart flared with jealousy as he saw Shizuru in Jou’s arms, but he didn’t look at her with disdain as he would if it was Seth in that position because he knew the circumstances were different this time around.

“Jou? Can Shizuru and I go pick some of the flowers to go on the dinner table tonight?” asked Mokuto.

“If you want to,” said Jou slowly releasing Shizuru, “but take my guards with you if you go too far away!”

“Okay!” exclaimed Shizuru jumping up and taking Mokuto’s hand as he stood. She ran off into the garden with two of the guards and Mokuto in tow.

Jou looked over at Seto. “You miss Mokuba?”

Seto nodded. “I normally see him everyday. We have breakfast together. I typically get back from the office in time to force him into bed. He doesn’t like it that he has a ten o’clock bedtime. He would much rather stay up all night playing video games.”

“I bet he would especially like to stay up all night if you were there to play games with him,” said Jou moving to lay down on his back. He yawned. “It’s so warm out here. I could go to sleep right here.”

“Not a bad idea.” Seto lay beside Jou and placed his head on Jou’s shoulder. “I’m sure you make a great pillow considering how much you eat.”

“Hey! Are you saying I’m fat?” asked Jou glaring at the top of Seto’s head.

Seto shifted his position so his head still rested on Jou’s shoulder but he looked up into the blond’s face. “You’re not fat, Jou. Listen, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?” asked Jou gently brushing a few brunet hairs back from Seto’s eyes.

Seth and Atemu stepped out onto a balcony high above, overlooking the garden, and they saw Jou and Seto lying together down below.

“Atemu has invited us to go out into the city with him,” said Seto.

Jou’s eyes widened. “What?”

“We can go out and explore the city, visit the marketplace.” Seto sat up.

Jou sat up and clenched his fists. “He said we could both go?”

“Yes. What’s wrong?”

“I want to go. I really do, Seto, but I don’t think I can,” said Jou quickly, “I don’t think Seth will let me go out into the city.”

Anger rose in Seto at the mention of his look-alike’s name. “Let you? Let you? Since when has anyone ever let you do anything? Your friends are always telling you not to fight with me and trying to prevent you from doing so, but you always do! You decide what you want to do and you do it! You can make your own decisions! He can’t keep you here if you don’t want to be here! I know you, Jou. You’re… resourceful.”

“Did you just compliment me?” asked Jou with wide eyes.

A faint pink tint graced Seto’s cheeks. “Do you want to go to the city?”

Jou smiled. “Yes, I do.”

“Then come with me,” said Seto, “I mean, with us. Atemu and all the guards. We’ll take our duel disks in case there’s any trouble, but I know there won’t be.”

“A day out in the city! This will be so great!” exclaimed Jou excitedly, “When do we leave?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to Atemu since he made the suggestion.”

Jou threw his arms around Seto knocking them both down to lie on the ground again. He laughed happily. “I was beginning to feel like we’re prisoners here.”

On the balcony above, Seth growled ferociously.

“They look close,” whispered Atemu to Seth.

“They aren’t. They hate each other,” said Seth, “Jou told me himself.”

“That’s not what it looks like from here,” said Atemu as Jou’s laughter increased as he rolled around on the ground with Seto, “or sounds like. They act rather in the same manner which you and Jono used to.”

Seth glared at Atemu. “I know what you’re thinking, Atemu. Don’t you dare say it! It can’t be true. They seriously do hate each other! I’ve seen the looks of pure, unadulterated hatred Seto has cast upon my blond. I’ve witnessed Jou reciprocate them a time or two. They tend to avoid each other more than they interact.”

“But you have to admit as well, Seth, that they do look oddly familiar. Like two young priests I once knew… hiding their mutual love through a shroud of hate,” said Atemu before turning and heading back inside, “We have meetings to attend, Seth.”

Seth glared at Seto, sitting up with Jou still in his arms, before he followed Atemu inside. “Did everyone know that Jono loved me besides me?”

“I don’t think anyone really knew,” said Atemu, “but none of us were blind. That was you. We all saw the puppy dog looks he gave you. We all saw the lustful gazes you sent his way.” He sighed. “We could all see how much you wanted to be together, and we were all getting very frustrated with your inability to admit that to each other. We wanted you to be happy together.”

“The day… the day Jono died… Mai told me Jono wanted me to go into his bed with him. Apparently to her, that statement means I would have to submit to him,” said Seth slowly, “Isis was fawning over Jono because she knocked me into him. I was seriously contemplating on whether I should test Mai’s theory.”

“Would you submit to Jono?” asked Atemu with a raised eyebrow, “I always thought you would need to be in complete control of your lover. You do seem the type to want absolute submission.”

“For Jono… I would be whatever type of lover he wished I be,” said Seth. He walked over and took a seat on a cushion. He leaned back and looked at Atemu. “I would give Jou the same consideration.”

Atemu smiled.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“To what do we owe this lovely flower arrangement?” asked Atemu as everyone sat down to dinner.

Mokuto and Shizuru giggled as they sat across from Seto and Jou.

“My young charges decided to pick some flowers from the garden,” said Jou, “I hope you don’t mind…”

“Not at all!” exclaimed Atemu smiling.

“What about you, Namu?” asked Jou, “They didn’t destroy any powerful healing herbs, did they?”

Namu giggled rather girlishly. “Not at all! Mokuto and Shizuru know better! They have a much better eye for herbs and weeds than you do, Jou!”

Jou breathed a sigh of relief and ignored the inherent insult in Namu’s words.

“So… now that the library is complete, what will Seto be working with?” asked Isis.

“I’m afraid I haven’t found a new position for him yet,” said Atemu, “So in the meantime, he could assist you, Namu. You mentioned a lot of work creating new ointments and teas, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” said Namu, “I could use an assistant for awhile. I have a large quantity of herbs…” He glanced at Jou. “That I’ve cured but haven’t managed to convert into usable forms yet. The good news is I can finally use my personal bath again.”

“Very well… then first thing in the morning, Seto will report to Namu.”

Namu smiled at Seto. “You won’t be able to order me around like you did the workers in the library though.”

Seto simply looked at Namu, not even bothering to glare.

“I always knew I’d get you to clean up my messes one day,” whispered Jou so only Seto, sitting right beside him, heard his words.

Seto snarled and glared at Jou. “Stupid mutt!”

“Arrogant ass! I’m not a mutt!” exclaimed Jou glaring back at Seto.

“You just admitted to being stupid, mutt, so I clearly can’t trust anything you say. You’re too stupid to understand your own dialect,” said Seto.

“What did you just say?” asked Jou standing up in anger.

“Jono! Seth! Stop fighting!” shouted Shizuru.

Jou looked over at the girl who so resembled his little sister. His wide eyes filled with horror as he saw the tears in her eyes. He fells into his chair for just a moment before he pushed his chair away from himself and rushed around the end of the table to pull Shizuru into his arms. “Hey, it’s okay, Shizu. Don’t worry. I won’t fight with Seth anymore.”

Shizuru buried her face in Jou’s shoulder and mumbled, “Promise?”

“I swear upon the Honor of Osiris,” whispered Jou.

Seto stared at Jou as he comforted the girl, but he wasn’t the only one. Most everyone stared at Jou and Shizuru.

Mai and Isis stared at Seto and Jou, clutching each other’s hands as they partook in a seemingly silent conversation.

Atemu stared at Seth and watched carefully for either the jealous reaction or the comprehensive glances. His eyes narrowed when he saw neither appear on Seth’s face.

Shizuru and Jou pulled away from their embrace, and their soulful brown eyes met in an understanding.

“Osiris,” whispered Shizuru. She tore her eyes away and looked down the table at Seth. Then her eyes turned to Seto before returning to Jou. “I can’t believe… Do you even know?”

“What?” asked Jou.

“You don’t. Osiris, he doesn’t know,” whispered Shizuru turning away from Jou.

“What do you think you know?” asked Jou.

“The truth about what’s in your heart,” said Shizuru, “I know what you don’t even realize yet. It’s one of the gifts given to me by Osiris. I was given the ability to see the truth beneath the lies.”

“Okay…” Jou walked around the table slowly and retook his seat. He lifted a piece of fruit and stared at it while thinking, ‘Why didn’t Osiris give me a gift?’

“So… Mai, when were you supposed to go and get that beautiful sable kitten?” asked Isis to change the subject quickly while they had a moment of silence.

“It should be weaned now,” said Mai, “It’s been… some time since we last spoke to the merchant.”

- - Modern Day - -

The plane landed on the runway, and the crew immediately opened the door for the young, brown haired girl to climb out.

“Shizuka!” called Mokuba running towards the plane.

The girl, Kawaii Shizuka, pulled her duffle bag’s strap over her shoulder and ran towards Mokuba. She hugged him as soon as she reached him. “What have you found out?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all,” said Mokuba starting to walk towards the limo with Shizuka.

“Where is everyone?”

“Yugi and Honda are searching the area around where they disappeared. Ryou and Anzu are waiting at the mansion in case anyone calls to make a ransom demand. I have everything set up if one comes in,” said Mokuba, “Otogi and Malik are both working on tracking them down, separately of course. I think Malik’s combing the streets talking to thieves and lowlifes.”

“Any news from Mai and Isis?” asked Shizuka as they climbed into the limo.

“Isis and Rishid are on an archaeological dig down in Egypt with Professor Hawkins and his granddaughter, Rebecca,” said Mokuba steeling his expression to prevent an oncoming blush, “I sent word out to them, but they don’t have phone service out there, and the messenger I sent out hasn’t made contact with me to tell me if they received the message or not.”

“And Mai?” Shizuka bit her lower lip. “Jou was dating her for awhile. She’d want to know.”

“I left a message for her to contact me on a message board that she frequents quite often, but I haven’t heard back,” said Mokuba, “and I don’t know where she’s at right now.”

“So what do we do now?” asked Shizuka.

“You and I will go back to the mansion and get into the Kaiba Corp. satellite system. Jou and Seto were dueling when they disappeared. If their duel disks are still activated, then I can trace them to wherever they are.”

“I hope our big brothers are okay.”

“Me too,” said Mokuba hugging Shizuka.

- - 3000 years ago - -

“Namu, I need you to do a special favor for me,” whispered Atemu guiding the healer away from the breakfast table.

“Anything, Pharaoh,” whispered Namu in return.

“I need you to pack up your mobile herbal kit. Be prepared for war, not with quantity, but with quality and diversity,” whispered Atemu, “Don’t ask why. Just do it.”

“Yes, Atemu,” whispered Namu, “I will gather my mobile kit immediately.”

“Thank you,” whispered Atemu turning away and walking over to Seth. “What meetings have we today?”

“The usual boring riff raff,” said Seth with a yawn.

Atemu nodded before leaving the room.

Almost at mid-day, Atemu summoned his most trusted guards to bring several people to him.

Hiroto brought Seto and Namu into the room where Atemu sat while several other guards escorted Jou, Seth, Isis, Mai, and Otogi into the room.

“What’s going on, Atemu?” asked Otogi.

Atemu rose. “We are going on a little trip into the city.”

Isis gasped, and Mai fainted.

Namu looked at Atemu in confusion. “We’re doing what?”

Seth glanced at Jou before glaring at Atemu. “Atemu, you must be out of your mind! We can’t go out into the city! The last time any of us went there… we lost Jono!”

“I know that, Seth, but I am Pharaoh,” said Atemu firmly, “I will walk in the streets of my city when I wish. I will not hide away in my palace in fear of some common criminal! I would think that you of all people would know we can’t do that!”

“This is a terrible idea,” shouted Seth looking at Jou again, “You’re risking our lives as well as the lives of our guests! I can’t allow this! Neither Jou or I will be leaving!”

Seto looked at Jou with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m not your slave, Seth. You can’t order me around,” said Jou, “I want to go out into the city. Either I go now with everyone else, or I slip out in the middle of the night and I go alone. It doesn’t matter to me.”

Seth’s eyes widened. “Jou?”

“Atemu’s not risking my life. I know the risk. I want to go. I’m not afraid to die,” said Jou, “Anubis would be good to me.”

“Anyone else wish to stay behind and keep Seth company?” asked Atemu smirking at his cousin.

“All right, if we’re going into the city, we should be prepared,” said Seth.

“That’s why I have my full herbal travel kit,” said Namu patting a pouch on his side, “Packed and prepared as requested, Atemu.”

Hiroto looked around at the guards assembled. “All of my best are present, Atemu. We will be ready when you wish to leave.”

“Namu, could you revive Mai so we can depart?” asked Atemu.

Namu blushed and knelt beside the blonde Priestess. He pulled a packet of herbs from his pouch and wafted it beneath her nose.

Mai opened her eyes slowly and blinked at Namu. “What happened?”

“You fainted when Atemu said we were going into the city to get your new kitten,” said Namu smiling angelically.

Mai’s eyes rolled again, but Namu wafted the herbs scent beneath her nose again before she had the chance to faint.

“Will you be able to come with us, Mai?” asked Atemu, “You are welcome to remain here if you wish. We could pick up the kitten for you.”

“You’re seriously going out into the city? After what happened to Jono?” asked Mai in shock.

“Yes. We may have lost one of our own, but we will not allow his attacker to think we are now weakened by that loss,” said Atemu.

“Don’t worry!” exclaimed Jou drawing a card from his deck within the duel disk on his wrist, “We’ll have my trusted Red-Eyes with us to protect us!”

Mai’s eyes widened as Jou placed the card on his duel disk to bring forth the hologram of his black dragon.

“I think they would feel safer knowing we have my three Blue-Eyes with us,” said Seto smirking at Jou.

Jou scoffed as he withdrew his card and placed it back in his deck.

Atemu smiled. “We all seem to be ready. Let’s depart.”

The guards surrounded the group at Hiroto’s signal, and everyone headed out, getting robes to cover their bodies and conceal their identities before they walked out of the palace and out the gates into the city.

Jou walked in between Seto and Seth as they all headed into the city. His honey brown eyes darted back and forth to see all the wonders from this close vantage point. He smiled happily.

The crowds of townspeople parted for the large group, and they whispered amongst themselves over who could be hidden beneath the robes.

Hiroto led the group towards the merchant’s shop where they would get the kitten.

The smell of various herbs reached their nostrils as they passed a shop.

“Wait,” said Jou suddenly as he saw the merchant holding a dried herb that hadn’t been crushed yet.

“What is it?” asked Seth as everyone stopped.

Jou moved through their group towards the merchant and stopped when a guard refused to let him pass. He looked at the merchant.

The merchant gasped. He hissed in a quiet voice, “Priest Jono? I was told that you were dead!”

Jou smiled. “Not quite yet.”

“I bet you need some more herbs!” exclaimed the merchant, “All the commotion… well… I’ll get the herbs for you!” He ducked into the back and returned in a moment with an ornate wooden box. He passed it to the guard in front of Jou. “No charge today, and I even included some of that special herb in case it got destroyed.”

The guard checked the box quickly before passing it to Jou.

Jou looked at the packets of herbs and smelled each one before coming to the pink cloth. His eyes widened, and he choked out the words, “L-l-love herbs?”

The merchant looked at Jou with confusion. “Yes. To entice your love, remember? To get him to admit his feelings for you and allow you to do the same?”

“H-him?” Jou blushed furiously.

“Is something wrong, Priest of Osiris?” asked the merchant.

“Oh… no! Nothing!” exclaimed Jou thoroughly embarrassed, “Thank you!” He ducked back into the group clutching the package close to his chest.

“How do you recognize love herbs, puppy?” asked Seto in a whisper as they moved on.

“I have a few talents I do keep hidden from you, Moneybags,” whispered Jou in a sultry voice.

“I’m sure you do,” whispered Seto brushing his arm against Jou’s.

The group continued moving until they reached the merchant where Mai would get her new kitten.

Mai stepped to the front of their group and stood beside Hiroto. She smiled at the merchant as she pulled her hood back enough for him to see her face.

“Priestess… You have come for the sable?” asked the merchant.

“Yes. Is he ready?” asked Mai.

“Weaned last week,” said the merchant, “I’ll get him for you.” He ducked into the back of his shop and returned after a few moments with a basket that he passed to Hiroto.

Mai took the basket from Hiroto after he checked it over. She looked in at the cute kitten. She glanced back up at the merchant. “How long until I’ll be able to breed him to my other cats? I would like to try him with my golden-eyed beauty… to get a child with his fur and her eyes.”

“It should take about a year for him to mature enough so he would be a good father to the kittens. Just make sure he doesn’t ever breed to the frisky white kitten I gave you,” said the merchant, “They are half-siblings.”

“I understand,” said Mai with a smile. She pulled her hood back down to hide her identity and stepped back to stand with Isis.

Everyone walked through the marketplace, keeping to well-known streets so they wouldn’t be putting themselves in too much risk. None of them saw the thief who disappeared into the shadows after their passing.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“They are in the city,” said Tekh as he knelt before Bakura.

“Who is in the city?”

“I have seen the Priestess of Bastet and the Priest of Osiris who you’ve killed!” exclaimed Tekh, “But there were others who kept their faces hidden! They are guarded as though the Pharaoh himself was in their midst!”

“Then we must attack them!” exclaimed Bakura with an evil glint in their eyes, “If it is true what you say, then that wretched Pharaoh may be in their group!”

“How could the Priest of Osiris have survived your attack?” asked Tekh.

“There was no way he could have survived!” exclaimed Bakura, “I saw his last breath myself! I saw the High Priest wallowing in agony over being unable to prevent the death of one of his subordinates! The Priest of Osiris is dead!”

“I still saw him,” said Tekh quietly.

“Let’s go say hello!”

“Yes, Bakura!”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Have you seen anything that interests you, Seto?” asked Atemu walking in between Seto and Jou.

“Nothing to buy or own,” said Seto, “but it is nice to be outside of the palace. Just to mingle with the commoners as if we don’t own the world they live in.”

“Is there nothing here you’d wish to buy?” asked Atemu.

Seto sighed. “I couldn’t take it back home anyway,” he said after a moment, “I come from the future. Anything we could buy would be missed if I were to take it to my time. It wouldn’t have been placed in whoever’s tomb to be found by whichever person was stupid enough to defile it hundreds of years in the future!”

“I understand, but still… there must be something you’d want. Perhaps in your history there was an item that just vanished and no one knew what happened to it,” said Atemu, “Or maybe there’s an item that is so common it wouldn’t be missed.”

“Then I wouldn’t want it,” said Seto.

Atemu nodded his head.

“Attack!” exclaimed Hiroto knocking a knife off course with the pole-arm he carried.

The guards closed ranks around the people in their protectorate.

“You shouldn’t have killed my subordinate that way,” called Bakura as he appeared before them.

Seth’s eyes flared with his anger and power as he pulled the hood of his robe down to reveal his face. “Dorobo Bakudan! You bastard!”

“Glad to see you remember me, High Priest! Now do you remember my power?”

“Red-Eyes Black Dragon!” called Jou pulling his robe off and drawing the card before placing it upon his duel disk.

“No! Not the Red-Eyes!” screamed Seth too late to prevent the dragon from appearing in the air above them all.

“Change of Heart!” cried Bakura, and a winged half-angel/half-demon appeared and swooped towards the black dragon with the ruby red eyes.

Seto pulled aside his robe to reveal his own duel disk. He drew a card quickly and shouted, “De-Spell the Change of Heart!”

The angel/demon shattered like a pane of glass.

Bakura growled.

“Red-Eyes! Attack!” exclaimed Jou.

“Dark Necrofear! Defend!” exclaimed Bakura.

A tall creature appeared, only to be destroyed a minute later.

Bakura glared at Jou as he stood still in front of the fairly adequate group of people. “How did you manage to survive my knife, Priest of Osiris?”

“I live because I am the avatar of Osiris!” exclaimed Jou, “And what of you? Why do you still live? Red-Eyes.”

The Red-Eyes attacked again, but this time nothing deflected its attack.

Four guards fell to the ground with their throats slit wide open.

Namu screamed as a cloaked figure grabbed him from behind and drug him into a shadow.

Bakura fell to his knees, and the illusion over him vanished to reveal his true identity. He wasn’t Bakura at all, just a simple thief, dead before he even hit the ground.

Hiroto looked all around. “What the hell happened?”

“Namu’s gone!” exclaimed Isis shrilly.

“Some of the guard troops are dead!” exclaimed Otogi kneeling beside the men and checking them to make sure his statement true.

“How did he come up behind us?” asked Atemu.

“He moves like the shadows,” said Mai.

“We must return to the palace immediately,” said Hiroto pleading with his eyes to Atemu to listen.

“Yes. Then you will do what you must to track down the assassin, kill him, and return Namu to us,” said Atemu.

Hiroto nodded, and the remaining guards filled in the gaps to complete the circle and return everyone to the palace. No sooner was everyone within the safety of the palace proper before Hiroto led his guards off to begin the search for Namu and his kidnapper.

Mai sat beside Isis on the floor as she tried to comfort her. “It’s okay, love. I know Namu’s your baby brother, and you have every right to worry about him. But you know he’s strong, and he’s also the best healer in the world. No matter what is done to him, he will survive and grow stronger from it. He will be fine. There is no reason to worry about him. Namu is strong, my love. Don’t worry. He’ll be returned to us in no time at all.”

Isis pulled Mai into a chaste kiss upon the lips before bursting into tears and crying on her lover’s shoulder.

“I am sorry for suggesting we go into the city,” said Atemu.

“And well you should!” exclaimed Seth, “That monster killed Jono! He could have done the same to Jou!”

“But he didn’t,” objected Jou, “I’m not weak. I’m capable of protecting myself!”

“Give a little credit where credit’s due, mutt,” said Seto.

Jou blushed. “With a little help. Thank you for the De-Spell, Seto.”

Seto nodded. He turned to look at Atemu. “I think I know what I would like to do now… as my job until such time as I can return home.”

“What is it?” asked Atemu raising an elegant eyebrow.

“I want to track down Dorobo Bakudan,” said Seto, “I may not have the resources in this time as I would in my own, but I can establish them. I can influence people to help me and gather the information we’d need to find him and then kill him.”

“I will not permit you to leave the palace again. It is too dangerous,” said Atemu, “I thought if no one knew we would be leaving that we would not have any problems. I have suspected someone might have leaked the information about Jono’s trip out and he had simply walked into an ambush.”

“I won’t need to leave the palace myself. I can have Hiroto and some of his men do the legwork for me,” said Seto.

“Then it will be done. You will be my Vizier in charge of establishing peace,” said Atemu, “And Jou will be a Vizier as well, an advisor to me in the mornings as well as caretaker of the children in the afternoon.”

“You mean, I’ll get to interact with adults too?” asked Jou smiling childishly.

Atemu nodded. “And as my new Viziers, you will be dressed accordingly. If anyone should wonder about why you look so much like Seth and Jono, we will just tell them that you are foreign diplomats and the resemblance is coincidental.”
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I Almost Had You